Dear Friend, Humiliated! That’s how I felt when my friend Bill, also my client and an evangelical Christian, challenged me with some questions from the Bible.
“Why don’t you believe in Jesus?” he asked. “There are so many references about him throughout the Bible.” He then quoted verse after verse until my head began spinning.
Confronted with his compelling proof-texts to substantiate Jesus as the messiah, the one and only reply I could think of was, “I’m Jewish… and Jews don’t believe in Jesus.”
“But why not?” asked Bill. Embarrassed by my ignorance… I admitted, “I don’t know.”
“Well I know!” he exclaimed. “You cannot accept Jesus because you Jews are blind to the real truth of the Bible… because you’re under the control of Satan… because scales cover your eyes.” And then he quoted even more biblical references to support his claim.
Why did Bill know so much about the Jewish Bible… and why didn’t I? If my non-Jewish friend can quote both Moses and Matthew so easily, what was I missing?
How could he present such convincing Biblical evidence for Jesus that I could not refute?
Some Jews would have just succumbed and fallen into the clutches of the evangelical movement. Others would have just brushed off this intrusion. I got angry… with myself!
Why was my religious birthright so irrelevant to me and yet so relevant to Bill? Ironically, his sincere interest in “saving my soul” inspired me to become a defender of my faith, that at age 52, I had ignored for such a long time. But now that my latent pride in being Jewish had been ignited… What was I to do? Where should I turn for help?
I was able to turn to Jews for Judaism, an extraordinary counter-missionary organization.
Coincidentally, or maybe it was “beshert”, at the time of my encounter with Bill, I saw an ad for Jews for Judaism’s Counter Missionary Survival Seminar. So I signed up for their 6-week course, hoping to fortify myself with the knowledge to deal with Bill’s questions.
I was not disappointed… In fact, I was exhilarated!
Every lecture systematically dismantled the missionaries’ claims and techniques and clarified the foundations of Jewish thought and practice that have unified Jews for three millennia. For the first time, I truly appreciated my Jewish heritage… but most importantly, I acquired the tools and knowledge to confidently respond to Bill’s missionary challenges.
But wait… Bill was my client and friend… I had never considered him to be a missionary!
Like many Jews, I had always stereotyped missionaries as professionals, wearing aJews for Jesus T-Shirt or a cleric’s collar and cross, preaching hell-fire and brimstone. Today, since missionaries are seldom on street corners, Jews don’t believe or perceive there’s a threat.
Absolutely wrong! Aside from missionary activity on the Internet, today, most Jews are exposed to Christian proselytizing through a personal contact with someone they know.
Based on the principle that people feel most comfortable talking with a peer… a friend, neighbour, colleague, fellow student or client… “Peer-to-Peer Proselytizing” is now one of the most popular and successful techniques used by Christians to convert Jews.
It happened to me… and it’s happening to thousands of Jews every year and everywhere.
With your generous support, Jews for Judaism can continue to fight back and provide:
- Dynamic preventive educational programs and materials that help keep Jews Jewish
- One-on-one counselling that rescues Jews from missionaries, cults and assimilation
But Jews for Judaism can’t continue without your help. I know that their life-saving work is effective because I’ve seen it in action… and I have also greatly benefited from it.
Over time, with Jews for Judaism’s help and encouragement, I developed a deeper appreciation and commitment to the precious Judaism I had once totally ignored… and I also became involved in the wealth of resources that our Jewish community provides.
The next year, when doing Bill’s tax return, he asked what sparked my newfound Jewish commitment. I told him it was all his doing… and thanked him for igniting my interest. “You can take credit for another convert,” I explained, “but this time it’s back to Judaism!”
But, the real credit goes to you, because without your past support, Jews for Judaism could never have helped me, or the thousands of others like me, that they help every year.
This Purim, as we celebrate our victory over those who tried to destroy the Jewish people, let us also celebrate our victory over a modern day Haman… the missionaries.
Please, join me and give as generously as possible to Jews for Judaism. Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Len Goldberg, CA
Chartered Accountant and Business Advisor
Jews for Judaism Student, Volunteer and Supporter
PS. Each year Jews for Judaism rescues countless Jews from missionaries, cults and eastern religions and prevents many more from falling into the clutches of evangelical groups, like Jews for Jesus… or Peer-to-Peer proselytizers, like my “friend” Bill. This Purim, seize the opportunity. Contribute to Jews for Judaism and help keep Jews Jewish. Thank you.
